The reauthorization of No Child Left Behind is making big waves among policymakers, journalists, and educators who are eager to see improvements to a policy that for years has left many educators in a teaching gridlock.

Today, the Idaho House of Representatives made Idaho the fifth state to pass legislation to implement the Civics Education Initiative, a bill designed to increase citizen engagement by requiring high school students to pass the same U.S. Citizenship Test that immigrants must pass to become U.S. citizens as a high school graduation requirement. The bill, already passed by the Idaho Senate, now goes to Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter for signature.

According to the recently released NAEP scores, or the "Nation's Report Card," reading and mathematics achievement for American 8th graders has improved in the last two years. However, 4th graders' achievement has remained sub par. Overall, there have been gains in both subjects since the assessments in the early 1990s.

As a result of sequestration and other budget constriants, many schools are cutting various physical education programs. Unfortunately, these cuts have also coincided with a push for physical fitness in schools across the country. According to several new studies, physical exercise and fitness are inextricably linked to students’ ability to learn and retain new information.